Is Stormtrooper: Tool of the Empire #43 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 1977 Topps Stickers · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Stormtrooper: Tool of the Empire #43 sells for $196 against $3.50 raw: a $193 spread, 56× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($178) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $3.50
- Grade 9.5
- $196
- PSA 9
- $178
- Gem premium
- 56×
- As of
- Oct 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $196 | +$168 | +$143 | +$42.50 |
| PSA 9 | $178 | +$149 | +$124 | +$24.39 |
| PSA 8 | $30.14 | +$1.64 | −$23.36 | −$123 |
Net = sale price − $3.50 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $182 | +$129 |
| 50% | $187 | +$133 |
| 75% | $191 | +$138 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading Stormtrooper: Tool of the Empire #43 — FAQ
Is Stormtrooper: Tool of the Empire #43 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Stormtrooper: Tool of the Empire #43 sells for $196 against $3.50 raw: a $193 spread, 56× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($178) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
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